Refrigerating apparatus



Nov. 9, 1937. E, a NEW|| 2,098,924

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 27. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 2.3 v 4 z/5 ,z 26' /N 34 l/} x \2.5 I, 3 /3 l "I: .l 27

'Il 'l l NJ 22 y@ l//S ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES REFBIGERATING APPARATUS yEdward B.Newm, nayt on, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton,Ohio, a corporation o! Delaware Application May 27,

6 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates vto refrigeration and particularly to traysadapted to have water frozen therein.

An object of my invention is to remove ice from a tray without applyingheat to the tray.

- Another object of my invention is to provide an improved device forremoving'ice from a tray.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device for removing aplurality of ice blocks together with a grid from a tray, which deviceincludes a portion embedded in at least one of the'ice blocks.

In carrying out the foregoing objects, it is a still further and morespecific object of my invention to provide a device for removing icetogether with a grid, which comprises at least two longitudinal and aplurality of transverse partitions for dividing the interior of a trayinto a plurality of rows of ice blocks, from a tray and which deviceincludes a portion embedded inthe end ice blocklocated between two ofthe longitudinal partitions of the grid.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a. preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ice tray showf ing an ice removingdevice constructed in accordance with the present invention associatedtherewith;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the tray taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the ice within the tray afterbeing partially removed therefrom by the removing device;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the tray and ice removingdevice and is taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of the deviceof the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the'device 45 disclosed in Fig. 5taken on the line 6 6 thereof.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed descrip- 1936, Serial No.82,098

compartments I5. The grid I4 includes two spaced apart verticallydisposed longitudinally extending partitioning members or portions I6and a plurality of vertically disposed transverse partitioning membersor portions I'I integrally united with an inter-secting the longitudinalpartitions to form three rows of the molds or compartments I5. It willbe noted, (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) that the one end wall I2 of tray I0slants upwardly at a greater angle than the other end wall and the sidewalls II thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The said oneend wall I2 of tray IIJ has a heavy metal piece I9 secured in anysuitable manner, such as by being welded thereto. The heavy metal pieceI9 ts under the rolled over top edge I3 of tray I0 to protect this edgefrom being damaged and is provided with a cut or notched-out grooveorthe like 2|. This groove 2I is adapted to receive a nger portion 22 ofa lever, generally represented by the reference character 23, having ahandle portion 24 and an intermediate body portion 25. A lug 26 formedon lever 23, between the body portion and the handle portion 24 thereof,extends downwardly and rests upon the top of one of the transversepartitions I1 of grid I4 to maintain all portions of lever 23 abovewater or ice contained in the tray I0. An aperture 28 provided in thebody portion 25 of lever 23 has a shaft 29, provided with a head 3 I,extending therethrough. An elongated horizontally extending plug 32 isthreaded upon or otherwise secured to the lower end of shaft 29. Thehead 3| formed on the upper end of shaft 29 and the plug 32 prevents theshaft from being separated from lever 23. It will be noted that the plug32 extends into the compartment I5 at the one end of tray III locatedintermediate the two longitudinal partitions I6 of the grid structureI4. Normally, the plug 32 is preferably positioned intermediate the topand bottom of compartment I5. The tray I0 is disclosed as having iceblocks 34 formed in the plurality of compartments I5 and with the plug32 embedded in the intermediate end blocks 34. of lever 23 and itsassociated parts will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the lever 23is in its normal position with lug 26 resting upon grid I4 and with theplug 32 embedded slightly below the center of the intermediate end iceblock '34. The block of ice 34 having plug 32 embedded therein is sur-4rounded on three sides by the walls Il and wall I6 of the grid structureI4. This ice block contacts walls of tray lII) only along the bottom andThe purpose l one side thereof. Obviously, therefore, this particularice block has more walls thereof bonded to the grid I4 than other blocksof ice around the upright walls of tray I0 and will adhere morestronglyto theA grid structure than these other ice blocks. Thisinherent characteristic of a tray and grid structure of the typedisclosed is utilized inthe present invention to remove all the iceblocks 34 together with the grid structure from tray I0 to thuseliminate the necessity of applying heat to the trayto release the icetherefrom. Therefore, when force is applied to handle portion 24l oflever 23, the lever pivots about a pivot, groove or notch 2|, exteriorlyof tray I0. Movement of handle'24 upwardly relative to tray I0 raiseslever 23 and the lever pulls shaft 29, plug 32 and the ice blocks 34together with the grid I4 upwardly and outwardly of tray I0. It will benoted that the slant of the one end wall I2 of tray llaifords spacebetween the end ice blocks 34 and the tray wall for elevating the gridand ice blocks bonded thereto upwardly of the tray. Since the one endwall I2 of tray III converges outwardly a greater distance than otherupright walls thereof, it is inherent in the structure disclosed forthis end wall to be moved outwardly away from the ice blocks 34 whenforce is applied to lever 23. A force applied to lever 23 at the pointof its pivotal engagement with the converging end wall I2 will cause aflexing movement of this end wall relative to the ice in the tray tothereby substantially peel the wall away from the ice. The flexing ofthe outward-ly converged tray end wall also causes a slight movement ofotherwalls of the tray relative to the ice and thus initially breaks theice bond between the ice and these other walls to thereby facilitateremoval o f the ice together with the grid structure I4 from the trayupon manipulating lever 23.

After the grid I4 together with ice blocks 34 adhering thereto have beenremoved from tray I0, the ice blocks may be removed from grid I4 in anysuitable or desirable manner. While my invention relates primarily tothe feature of relmoving a grid together with ice blocks bonded oradhering thereto from a tray, it will be understood that the grid may beof any suitable or desirable construction to facilitate release of iceblocks therefrom after the grid has been removed from the tray. Forexample, the grid may be constructed in accordance with the teachingcontained in the patentsto Jules N. Saler No. 2,037,517, No. 2,037,518,No. 2,037,519 and No. 2,037,521 of April 14, 1936 so `as to providequick removal of ice blocks therefrom after having been removed fromlthe tray in accordance with the present invention. 4

Upon again utilizing the tray II! of my invention for freezing water orother liquids, the' lever 23 together with shaft 29 and plug 32 carriedby the lever are placed in the associated position with tray I0 as shownin Fig. 2 of the drawings,

so that plug 32 will be submerged in water contained in the tray priorto placing the tray on a support of a cooling element or evaporator 'ofa refrigerating apparatus preferablyvof the household type. Obviously,my improved grid and ice removing device can be used over and over againwithout damage to the tray by virtue of the reenforcing member or blockI9 being secured to the end of the tray to which the leverage orvcamming force is applied.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6 o f the drawings wherein I have discloseda modified form of the invention, it will be noted that a portion of therolled-over top edge I3a of tray Illa is cut away along the slanting endwall I2a thereof'. This cut-away portion of the top edge I3a of .trayIlla is occupied by a rigid relatively thick metal member I9a which issecured to tray I0a by rivets 36 (see Fig. 6) or by being welded to thetray end Wall I2a. Member I9a is provided with apair of spaced apartupstanding ears 3l (see Fig. 5) through which a rod or` pin 38 passes.Rod 38 passes through an opening 3!! provided in a lever 4I and forms apivot point for the lever. Lever 4| includes a handle portion 42 and anger end portion 43. A plug 44 secured to a shaft 45 is embedded in theintermediate end ice block 34a within tray Illa. The shaft 45 includes ahooked or bent-over upper end 46 which 'fits in and engages thehollowed-out part of finger 43 of lever 4I. An upstanding edge portion41 (see Fig. 6) formed on the rigid reenforcing member Illa forms a stopfor the fingered end 43 of lever 4I to prevent this end of the levertogether with the shaft 45 and the plug 44 from lowering beyond apredetermined point within the intermediate end ice compartment I5a.

After water has been frozen in tray Illa to embed plug 44 within theintermediate end ice block 34a, a downward force applied to the handleend 42 of lever 4I will cause movement of the lever about the pivot rod38 to elevate the linger end 43 thereof. Elevation of the finger end 43of lever 4I causes the plug 44 together with the ice blocks 34a and gridI4a to move upwardly of tray II'Ia so as to release ice from the tray ina manner similar to that described inthe showing of the device disclosedin Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided novel andimproved devices for removing a grid structure together with ice blocksbonded or adhering thereto from a tray, which devices are inexpensiveand effective in their function. 'I'he improved devices disclosed removeall ice blocks from a tray without causing the blocks to chip or crackinto small pieces and in addition permit removal of the ice blocks fromthe tray Without applying heat to the tray. Thus, ice blocks produced inthe trays of the present invention retain latent heat stored vthereinand are, therefore, more efficient in cooling drinks, etc.

While the forms of embodiments of theinvention as herein disclosed`constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a relativelyl shallow tray of the type adapted to beinserted in or placed on a cooling element of a household refrigeratingapparatus and adapted to contain a substance to be frozen, a. unitarygrid structure within said tray dividing the interior thereof into aplurality of molds, a member embedded in the frozen substance Withinone'of said molds and having a portion thereof extending outwardlytherefrom,

means for removing the frozen substance together with said gridstructure from said tray, said means including a lever having a handleportion and an end portion pivotally engaging a portion of said tray,said lever having a portionintermediate the handle and said end portionsthereof attached to said extending portion ofsaid member, and said leverbeing adapted when tray to pry said grid structure and the frozensubstance from the tray.

2. In combination, a relatively shallow tray of the type adapted to beinserted in or placed on a cooling element of a householdA refrigeratingapparatus and adapted to contain a substance to be frozen, a unitarygrid structure Within said tray dividing the interior thereof into aplurality of molds, a member embedded in the frozen substance within oneof said molds and having a portion thereof extending outwardlytherefrom, means for removing the frozen substance together Vwith saidgrid structure from said tray, said means including a lever having ahandle portion and an end portion engaging said extending portion ofsaid member, said lever having a portion intermediate the handle andsaid end portions pivotally attached to said tray; and said lever beingadapted when moved about its pivotal attachment to said tray to pry saidgrid structure and the frozen substance from the tray.

3. In combination, a relatively shallow tray of the type adapted to beinserted in or placed on a cooling element of a household refrigeratingapparatus and adapted to contain a substance to be frozen, a unitarygrid structure within said tray, said grid structure comprisingvertically disposed spaced apart longitudinally extending partitions anda plurality of vertically disposed transverse partitions intersectingsaid longitudinally extending partitions, said grid dividing theinterior of said tray into three rows of molds, a member embedded in thefrozen substance within the end mold of the central row thereof andhaving a portion extending outwardly from the frozen substance, meansfor removing the frozen substance together with said unitary gridstructure from said tray, said means including a lever having a handleportion and an end portion pivotally engaging a portion of said tray,said lever having a portion intermediate the handle and said endportions thereof attached tosaid extending portion of said member, andsaid lever being adapted when moved about its pivotal engagement withsaidtray to pry said grid structure and the frozen substance from thetray.

4. In combination, a relatively shallowtray of the type adapted to beinserted in or placed on a coolingelement of a household refrigeratingapparatus and adapted to contain a substance t0 be frozen, a unitarygrid structure within said tray, said 'grid structure comprisingvertically disposed spaced apart longitudinally extending partitions anda plurality of vertically disposed transverse partitions intersectingsaid longitudinally extending partitions, said grid dividing theinterior of said tray into a plurality of rows of molds, said moldsincluding end corner molds bounded on two sides by the partitions ofsaid grid structure and an intermediate end mold bounded on three sidesby the partitions of said grid structure, a member embedded in thefrozen substance within the intermediate end mold of the plurality ofmolds and having a portion extending outwardly from the frozensubstance,

means for removing the frozen substance together with said gridstructure from the tray, said means including a lever having a handleportion and an end portion engaging said extending portionof saidmember, said lever having a portion intermediate the handle and said endportion pivotally attached to said tray, and said lever being adaptedwhen moved about its pivotal attachment to said tray to pry said gridstructure and the frozen substance from the tray.

5. In combination, a tray of the type adapted to be placed on orinserted in a cooling element of a household refrigerating apparatus andadapted to contain a substance to be frozen, said tray having one endwall thereof directed outwardly toward the top of the tray a greaterdistance than other walls thereof, a unitary grid structure within thetray, said grid structure including vertically disposed spaced apartlongitudinally extending partitions and a plurality of verticallydisposed transverse partitions intersecting said longitudinalpartitions, said grid dividing the interior of said tray into a'plurality of rows of molds, said molds including end corner moldsbounded ontwo sides by the partitions of L said grid structure and anintermediate end mold bounded on three sides by the partitions of saidgrid structure, a member embedded in the frozen substance within theintermediate end mold of the plurality of end molds and having a portionextending outwardly from the frozen substance, means for removing thegrid structure together with the frozen substance from the tray, saidmeans including a lever attached to said extending portion of saidmember and pivotally engaging the wall of said tray directed outwardly agreater distance than other walls thereof, and said lever being adaptedupon movement thereof about said pivotal engagement with said tray topry the entire grid structure and the frozen substance from the tray.

6. In combination, a, relatively shallow tray member .of the typeadapted to be inserted in or placed on a cooling element ofl a householdrefrigerating apparatus and adapted to contain a substance to be frozen,said tray member having an upright wall portion directed outwardlytoward the top thereof, a unitary grid structure within said tray memberdividing the interior thereof into a plurality of molds, a memberimbedded in the frozen substance within one of said molds and having aportion thereof extending and said lever being adapted upon movementthereof to flex the tray member and pry the grid structure and frozensubstance adhering thereto from the tray member.

EDWARD B. NEWILL.

